Evaluation (day 7)

* Hello to you!  Welcome to the Body Temple study.  If you are just joining us and you would like to start from the beginning look to the right and you will notice under Blog Map the words "Body Temple"  click on that and it will take you all of the Body Temple entries.  Go to the very bottom and work your way up.  May the Lord bless you in your journey!

     Can you believe that we are at the end of day 7 already?  In some ways it seems longer to me because I have been thinking and praying over this study for so long.  As I was praying over where to go next I felt prompted to go back and read over the days that we have already accomplished.  It was such a blessing to reread some of the passages of scripture that we have covered.   I am always amazed at God's word, and how powerful it is in my life.  Each passage has so much to say.  You know, there is a passage in scripture which talks about the word of God.  It says, "For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow..." 
When we are in the word every day we become active participants in what He is doing.  And His word becomes active in us and it gets to the very inner parts of our being.  Pretty crazy huh? 
     These past 7 days have been about getting out some of the junk and laying it before God.  It is not that He doesn't know about it - He does.  But it is our action of putting it out there which places us in a position to receive something from Him.  He has so much to offer us dear friends.  We need only reach out and receive it.  He will change us because He promises to do so. 
     We have established that we have a great need to be filled.  And we spend a great deal of time filling ourselves with the wrong things.  We take control because we don't really believe that God can do what He says He can.  So to live the Jesus way takes a leap of faith.  And it means stepping away from the choices that haven't worked but to which we tenaciously cling.
     This week we will explore what kinds of bodies God would like us to have.  We will talk about setting goals and about healthy choices for food as well as exercise.  We will put food and exercise in their proper places.  We will ask God to increase our knowledge about Him.  We are going to work hard and we will be changed both inside and out.  I am so excited to enter this next week with you! 
     Homework
Read Hebrews 4:12-13 aloud then read it again slowly.  Take note of a word or phrase that stands out to you then write that in your journal.  Ask yourself these questions:
          What about this word or passage is meaningful to me?
          How can I apply that to my daily living?
          What knowledge do I gain about God from that word or passage?
Take some time to go back over this week. 
     Fasting
          How are you doing on your fasting? 
          What are the challenges and rewards to fasting that particular thing or food? 
          What have you learned about yourself? 
There are many times when we fast that we crave the item that we have chosen to fast.  This will pass but you need to remain strong.  Make the time of temptation an opportunity to pray.  Go back and reread Jesus' temptation in Matthew 4 and note his responses to the enemy.  Write those verses in your journal or better yet, put them to memory.  You will then have a ready answer when you are tempted!
     Challenge
          How are you doing with the challenge from day 6?
          Have you allowed yourself to become truly hungry for food before eating?
          How does it feel to remove the power that food has had over your life - write it in your journal.

*Please please please email us to let us know how you are doing - we want to hear your feedback! And as always, if you have questions about Jesus or anything else contact us at lifestreamwomen@lifestreamweb.org